Victor Osimhen Benched by Conte as Chelsea Transfer Looms

Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker, has found himself out of favor once again under Antonio Conte’s management at Napoli.

In their final pre-season friendly, Napoli suffered a 2-0 defeat to Genoa, and Osimhen was conspicuously absent from the squad. Despite continuing to train with the team, he hasn’t featured in any of their preparation games this summer. Negotiations for his exit from the club are ongoing.

The situation is further complicated by reports linking both Osimhen and Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea. The proposed deal would see Lukaku return to Italy on a permanent basis, while Osimhen would move to Stamford Bridge on loan with an option to buy. However, Osimhen’s representative, Roberto Calenda, has denied any cut-price deal, emphasizing that Osimhen remains a key player for Napoli.

Napoli’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, has been holding out for a team to trigger Osimhen’s €130 million release clause.

Paris Saint-Germain has also expressed interest, but neither they nor Chelsea are willing to meet Napoli’s high asking price. Meanwhile, Conte has privately made it clear that Lukaku is his first-choice target.

As the transfer window unfolds, the fate of Victor Osimhen hangs in the balance. Will he secure a move away from Napoli, or will he remain with the Italian side? Only time will tell.